Winnipeg group says two members fired, one relocated after problematic behaviour surfaces

Problematic videos of vulnerable people being put in harm’s way by a community group in Winnipeg have surfaced, but the group’s leader says it’s taken action to remedy the issue, saying it doesn’t condone the behaviour captured on tape.

In three videos obtained by CityNews Winnipeg, members of the SABE peacewalkers – which calls itself a “relationship-based de-escalation team” – can be seen exhibiting problematic behaviour while interacting with vulnerable members of the public.

In two separate videos, two women can be seen being pushed by SABE staff at the N’Dinawemak shelter on Disraeli, and in another video, a SABE member fails to quickly intervene in a fight that resulted in the death of 59-year-old Floyd Flett. 

“We don’t condone this kind of behaviour,” said SABE General Manager, Victor Mondaca.

“When it comes to SABE peace walkers, we feel like our staff, including myself, need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. A higher standard when it comes to dealing with our relatives. A higher standard when we leave this building — every time we put on this event and every time we take it off.” 

Mondaca says steps have already been taken as a result of the incidents, with two of the SABE team members terminated and another relocated as a result, saying the group’s goal is accountability. 

“We’re vigilante. We’re extremely vigilant. I hold this organization very accountable. I hold myself very accountable, so when it comes down to this kind of a situation, we need to be faster, more aware, and at the same time, give ourselves that room. Not everyone is going to succeed every single day. Everybody has a bad day. We need to learn to separate the bad days from the bad people.”  

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, responded to a CityNews request for a comment, saying they do not operate N’Dinawemak, however, it is one of six partners who provide services to the shelter.

“The organization’s operating model is being restructured with a focus on the service experiences of our relatives. The reported concerns are being investigated, and the outcome of this investigation will inform additional actions taken,” said the AMC in a statement.

Tristen Houle, a former peace walker, says what he saw in the video, was unacceptable and should be reviewed.

“Maybe they’re hiring the wrong people,” Houle. 

Houle, who says he worked with SABE from 2021 to 2023 and was terminated from the organization, but still doesn’t know why. However, he says it’s not a job for everyone.

“A lot of people maybe had short tempers, working with people like that, and they can’t do something simple like the “B-word” or the “F-word” that’s said to them, and honestly to see those videos, I’ve never anything like that happen,” explained Houle. 

CityNews has brought the videos to the attention of the Minister of Housing, Addictions, and Homelessness in Bernadette Smith and a representative from her office said they are looking into the incidents.

Mondaca says while he acknowledges the videos look bad, he stresses the group does a lot of good work in the community, specifically around the drug toxicity crisis, and says if groups like his received more funding, they’d be better able to provide better training and supports for their staff, which he says would result in better outcomes.